Age Spots – by Ruth Dockins
No matter what kind of program or service the government comes up with there are people who are immediately ready to take advantage of the program as well as anyone who participates in the program. The following article was emailed to me from Missouri’s SMP Program. The program that is designed to teach us how to detect fraud, report fraud, and avoid becoming a victim of fraud.
The following is an approved press release regarding a FTC Consumer Alert for a scam.
It’s enough to make you sick. No sooner had the U.S. Supreme Court ruled on the Affordable Care Act than scam artists began working the phones. Claiming to be from the government, they’re saying that under the Affordable Care Act, they need to verify some information. For example, they might have the routing number of the person’s bank, and then use that information to get the person to reveal the entire account number. Other times, they have asked for credit card numbers, Social Security numbers, Medicare ID, or other personal information.
The Federal Trade Commission, the nation’s consumer protection agency, cautions you not to give out personal or financial information in response to unsolicited phone calls, emails, or knocks on your door. Scam artists want your information to commit identity theft, charge your existing credit cards, debit your checking account, open new credit card, checking, or savings accounts, write fraudulent checks, or take out loans in your name.
If you get a call from someone who claims to be from the government and who asks for your personal information, hang up. It’s a scam. The government and legitimate organizations with which you do business have the information they need and will not ask you for it.
Then, file a complaint at ftc.gov or call toll-free, 1-877-FTC-HELP. If you think your identity’s been stolen, visit ftc.gov/idtheft or call 1-877-ID-THEFT. You also can file a complaint with your state Attorney General.
For more information about the federal health care law, visit HealthCare.gov.
The FTC works to prevent fraudulent, deceptive and unfair business practices in the marketplace andto provide information to help consumers spot, stop and avoid them. To file a complaint or get free information on consumer issues, visit ftc.gov or call toll-free, 1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357); TTY: 1-866-653-4261. Watch a new video, How to File a Complaint, at ftc.gov/video to learn more. The FTC enters consumer complaints into the Consumer Sentinel Network, a secure online database and investigative tool used by hundreds of civil and criminal law enforcement agencies in the U.S. and abroad.
Produced in cooperation with the Office of the Washington State Attorney General
